Edge-smoothing machine



C. BROWN.

EDGE SMOTHI'NG MACH-INE.

AFPLICATION FILED MAY 18, [918| Patented May 9, 1922.

D! CI 6 INVENTC v g, @W

FIG

WlTNESSES in a suitable framework 5.

CHRISTOPHER BROWN,

0F CHARLEROI, PENNSYLVANIA.

EDGE-SMOOTHING MACHINE.

To all fic/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Charleroi, in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have made a new and. useful Invention in Edge-Smooth ing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates smoothing the edges of sheets of material, such as Carrara glass, marble, etc. It has for its principal objects the provision of a smoothing or abrading device of the belt or band type, (1) in which a marimumwear of the belt or band is secured, (2) which is of cheap, simple construction easily repaired and maintained in operating condition, which can be effectively used by an operative after a limited amount of. experience, and (4.) in which improved` means are provided for causing the band to engage the edge of the sheet of material with the necessary smoothing or abrading pressure. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of detail., Fig. 4 is a section on a line IV--IV of Fig. 3, and F ig. 5 is a section on the line V-V of Fig. 3.

The abrading element in the device is a band or belt 1 preferably of cloth and having an operating surface of carborundum or other abrading material, belts of this character constituting a well known article of commerce. This belt runs in a vertical plane over three pulleys 2, 3 and 4 mounted These pulleys have their surfaces covered with leather to give better frictional engagement with the belt and the pulley-2 is driven from a suitable source of l ower by means of the belt 6. The belt is preferably kept tight by means of a heavy idler pulley 7 mounted upon the lever 8 and provided with a suitable handle 9 for raising the pulley for the removal or application of a belt.

Extending transversely of the front of the machine is a track l0 upon which is mounted a truck or carrier 11 adapted to support the sheet of material whose edge is being smoothed, such sheet being indicated by the reference numeral l2. Transverse bars 13 serve to support the sheet 12, such bars beseries of holes 14 (Fig.

mg provided with a 2) adapted to receive the pms 15 for holding to a machine for Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led May 18, 1918.

Patented May 9, 1922. serial No. 235,263.

the sheet in proper position upon the table.

Inorder to give the belt 1 the necessary abrading contact with the edge of the sheet being smoothed, the pressure applying device shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, is employed. This device comprises a hand lever 1G pivoted at 1'7 to a braclret 18 carried by the frame of the machine. The connection 17 between the lever 16 and the bracket 18 is preferably a relatively loose one, so that the lever can be moved vertically a limited distance baclr and forth as well as horizontally. The lever carries intermediate its ends the block 19, such block being mounted upon the bolt 20. rThe front face of this block 19 is preferably rounded as indicated 'at 21 in Fig.

4 and is provided with the face 22 of yielding material preferably leather.

.In operation the lever is moved forward causing the leather face to engage the abrading band or belt and press it against the edge of the sheet 12. While pressure being applied, the lever is its loose pivot 17 so that lressure 1s applied from the bottom of the edge of material 12 to the top thereof, thus insaring that the entire width of the edge shall be smoothed. In order to subject the entire length of the edge of the sheet to the abrading action of the belt, the truck 11 is moved slowly back and forth across the band. This series of operations serves to secure the smoothingof the edge of the sheet throughout its entire area.

The features of rounding the edge of the bloclr 21 and of giving the lever its limited vertical movement have been found to be most desirable from a practical standpoint. A too rapid wearing' away or grooving of the leather' face 22 is avoided, abrading pressure by the belt may be applied on all parts of the edge of the sheet of material being smoothed, and the abrading pressure may be localized because of the restricted area of contact between the rounded leather face and the belt. The belt is also worn out uniformly tlirouglr1 out its width so that a maximum cutting effect is secured from each belt. The machine can be operated cheaply and the operators quickly acquire the slrill necessary to operate the machine successfully, one operator accomplishing the work of a large number previously required in the hand smooth* ing operation heretofore practiced.

What I claim is:

1 In combination in an edge smoothing machine, a sheet support, an endless abradmoved up and down about ing or smoothing belt mounted to run transversely of the sheet Carried on the support,

means for driving the belt, and a presser member back of thebelt opposite the edge of the sheet and mounted to move freely towardl ing or smoothing belt mounted to run truns- 10 Versely of the sheet carried on the support, meansfor driving the belt, u manually operable member mounted back of the belt tor movement toward and 'from the belt und longitudinally thereof, and u. presser block v.

pivoted` on said member to permit a limited rocking movement thereon.

CHRISTOPHER BROWN. 

